SG guitars

[Empty Pockets]

Re: SG guitars

True blueman...but those Epiphones sell used for half the price of new. I came close to buying an Epiphone G-400 a couple of months back just because I couldn't believe they only wanted $150 for something that goes for $400 new.

If you buy a used Gibson and hold onto it for five years, you can usually sell it for what you paid or more. And if you buy one of the lesser-known models i mentioned while they're still lesser known, then in 10-20 years when guitars made in the 90's are "vintage" you can brag about how yours is vintage AND from a series that was only around for a season or two. Like how they only made SG-X's for a year, and only made the green ones for three months. Helps the value out a little bit when you're negotiating, y'know?

 

[Innocent_Bystander]

Re: SG guitars

Here's an '06 61 Reissue that I still own and an '04 Standard which I sold to a friend. Both are great guitars but very, very different.

 

[brit84]

Re: SG guitars

ive got a red standard like above /\ and currently bidding on one of the sg specials with emg's that they came out with for week 33(?).

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: SG guitars

Hey thanks for the replies guys. I guess Epi and Gibson are the best routes, unless you want an ESP. I'm probly gonna save for a Gibby so that I can say I own at least one Gibson, I'll probly never have a Gibson LP due to the cost. More than a Gibson SG, I want that First Act custom shop that Matt Pike (High on Fire) plays, too bad that isn't a readily available model.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: SG guitars

Not a very good pic, but here's my modded Epi Iommi. I moved the output jack to the edge, and put in a 4P/3T switch to allow standard/split/paralell switching of the USA Iommis.

 

[rainsong86]

Re: SG guitars

i like the aesthetics and feel of mine.. sg's are very light which is good but it makes them feel cheap to me.. but I think you guys are right about the pickups.. jus not a fan of the 490/498 setup.. maybe the ebony board makes em way too bright on this guitar.. but it's different and I got enough duncan-equipped guitars

 

[Ez74]

Re: SG guitars

ive got a red standard like above /\ and currently bidding on one of the sg specials with emg's that they came out with for week 33(?).

I really want one of these also.

 

[blueman335]

Re: SG guitars

True blueman...but those Epiphones sell used for half the price of new. I came close to buying an Epiphone G-400 a couple of months back just because I couldn't believe they only wanted $150 for something that goes for $400 new. If you buy a used Gibson and hold onto it for five years, you can usually sell it for what you paid or more.

Empty Pockets: If you buy a used Epi SG Std for $200 to $250, you can "sell it what you paid for it" too! Just look at eBay. Both Gibson & Epi SG's drop a lot in value when you take a new one out of the store. Buy a new Gibson SG & you'll usually take a beating when you sell it. Even the original 1960's SG's aren't worth nearly what most other vintage Gibson & Fenders from that era are. The SG just doesn't hold its value well, one reason being there are so many more made from day one (like 100,000 in the 1960's alone), plus it's inexpensive to manufacture. A 1963 SG Std in near-mint condition is only worth $3,000 (Blue Book of Electric Guitars, 2003). Should have bought a '59 Les Paul that's worth $250,000 now!

If I can get 3 used (set-neck) Epi SG Std's, each with a different pair of used SD's, DiMarzio's, or Gibsons, for what one used Gibson SG Std costs, I think I'm coming out ahead in this. One of mine with Gibson PU's is going to be pretty hard for even you to tell apart by the sound, if you could at all.

And I think there are plenty of SD's & DiMarzio's that are superior to any Gibson PU's, so each of my three Epi's could actually sound better than your one Gibson. I don't know about you, but to me that makes a lot of sense. I actually have an Epi SG Std with a pair of '59's, another with a '59/C5 set, and a third with a pair of Phat Cats. All for what one used Gibson SG Std costs. Sound-wise, I'll take on that Gibson any day of the week with my trio. At a gig or jam, I'm not embarrassed about the Epiphone name on my headstocks, as mine sound as good or better than the other guitars there.

Spending more doesn't guarantee better sound (or that the guy can play the thing!). By understanding tone quality, and matching a set of American-made PU's to your guitar's body, & tweaking that with magnets, pots, caps, and a good set up, its possible to get better tones than some stock high-end guitars. The guys on this forum are some of the great teachers of how to do that.

SG's are still a great design for looks, tone, & playing, but you can find better returns on your investment as far as guitars go. If you could go back in time 40 years & buy either a '59 LP or a '63 SG, which would you choose?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: SG guitars

Eh i wasn't looking to start a debate about which guitar is worth more or what sounds better. Just stating that i'd rather invest in a cool and unique Gibson that might be worth a lot when I'm too old to play it anymore, than a licensed copy of a vintage guitar that still does the job well but won't be worth as much down the road.

i'm not saying "Mine's better than yours because blah blah blah" i'm saying toMAYto, and you're saying toMAHto. SG's are killer guitars that are a good value.

 

[blueman335]

Re: SG guitars

Hey, I wasn't wanting debate this myself. This thread started with a guy asking for advise on what SG to buy, and I just want him to be aware that there are very inexpensive ways to get a great-sounding one, especially if you've learned some handyman tips from this forum. For most people, cash is an issue, which is why Epi's outsell Gibsons 10 to 1. If he, or anyone else wants to spend the money on a Gibson and get better quality, go for it. Whatever works for you.

I fully understand the desire to own Gibsons, & I would myself if I had the cash flow (I'll dump the Epi's the day I win the lottery). That said, I also get a perverse satisfaction on making a mid-price import sound just almost identical to a high-end American-made guitar. I like the confused looks on the faces of the guys that spent 5 times what I did & thought they'd blow me away on tone. But I'll be the first to admit that Epi's don't come from the factory sounding all that great. It's like buying a 'fixer-upper' house.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: SG guitars

You could buy an SG copy, but later in the back of your head you'll be wishing you got a real Gibson.
I've owned an Epi SG (not bad for the price), Viper (even better) and now I own 2 Gibson SG's. A Gothic SG and SG X. The Gibby's just stand out......

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: SG guitars

pfft, I've had several (and played myfriend's) epipone SG's, and I never liked a single SG I played until I got my Gibson...just fwiw, thought I'd add that in there.

You can debate getting more guitars, or getting nearly the same sound...but playability is an issue as well and there are other factors. Bottom line is a Gibson, one day, is going to stop going down in value and start going back up. An epiphone will never go back up in value, only down.

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: SG guitars

pfft, I've had several (and played myfriend's) epipone SG's, and I never liked a single SG I played until I got my Gibson...just fwiw, thought I'd add that in there.

You can debate getting more guitars, or getting nearly the same sound...but playability is an issue as well and there are other factors. Bottom line is a Gibson, one day, is going to stop going down in value and start going back up. An epiphone will never go back up in value, only down.

That is true but pretty much meaningless for someone like me. I don't sell guitars, with my first guitar the mighty squier strat being the exception. I simply don't buy a guitar with the intention if ever selling it. I've had some hard times where I almost had to sell an axe to make rent, but was able to get by w/o selling. Now I do want a Gibbo, but mainly b/c I can say I have a "real" gibson and I don't like the epi headstock, which is my least favorite part on my epi.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: SG guitars

Yeah honestly the ugly Epiphone headstock ruins it for me every time too...I mean Gibson owns them now, why not put the right head on the guitar?

 

[uOpt]

Re: SG guitars

Also make sure potential buyers noticed and memorized what was posted on the first page: all of this only applies to the Epiphone SG models with set neck and mahogany body. The bolt neck models are hopeless.

Personally I'd look at ESPs if authentic look isn't important.

 

[guitarded]

Re: SG guitars

All the EPI models have different shaped headstocks than the Gibson counterparts.

I love SG's myself. Epiphone is putting out a bunch of limited edition set-neck SG's now. The benefit of Epi's is that have the true Gibson specs, so you don't get any cheezy-looking changes to the headstock or body to get around patents. Why go with another brandn that looks funky?

 

[Hellion]

Re: SG guitars

I know Epiphone makes a very nice SG copy, but it's really not an SG is it? I cut my teeth on SGs and own more than my share. I don't have any business playing them anymore, because I have a tendency to be rough on delicate instruments and let's face it, SGs are a little delicate. But, God, they're sweet...

 

[sosomething]

Re: SG guitars

I've still got this cheap old thing.